Creative Culture Alumni Return to JBFC with Their Feature Doc, On the Divide

Award-winning filmmakers and Creative Culture alumni to participate in one-night-only Q&A at Jacob Burns Film Center for their feature documentary On the Divide

Pleasantville, NY – March 30, 2022 – Award-winning filmmakers Leah Galant, of Cortlandt Manor, and Maya Cueva will attend a Q&A at the Jacob Burns Film Center on April 9 to discuss their new film On the Divide.

Galant and Cueva are Creative Culture alums who met at Ithaca College, and the pair previously directed the SXSW-selected documentary short The Provider, which was nominated for a Student Emmy. During their Creative Culture fellowships, they produced a number of acclaimed short films: Leah’s Death Metal Grandma was acquired by New York Times’ Op-Docs, while Maya’s Ale Libre was an official selection at prestigious film festivals including SFFilm, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, and HotDocs. Following the completion of their fellowships, the JBFC provided equipment and post-production support for On the Divide.

“It’s wonderful to have these remarkable fellows from our Creative Culture Program come home to the Burns to debut their first feature length work,” said Director of Programs at the Media Arts Lab, Sean Weiner. “I am thrilled to see our mission in action, as the JBFC continues to create an inclusive pathway for emerging filmmakers and celebrate their career trajectories.”

On the Divide follows the story of three Latinx people living in McAllen, Texas, who—despite their views—are connected by the most unexpected of places: the last abortion clinic on the U.S./Mexico border. The film opens for a one-week run at the Jacob Burns Film Center starting Friday, April 8.

The Q&A will be held following the 7:00 pm screening of On the Divide on April 9. Tickets for this special event are $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

The Jacob Burns Film Center developed Creative Culture, our artist support program, with a mission to champion diverse voices and foster a thriving community of artists from our local region, across the United States, and around the world. With generous support from our funders, Creative Culture provides accessible, inclusive, and impactful fellowship and residency opportunities for filmmakers.

For more information, visit burnsfilmcenter.org, FB: @JacobBurnsFilmCenter, Twitter: @JBFC_ny and Instagram: @JBFC_pville.

The Jacob Burns Film Center is a nonprofit arts and education hub located on a three-building campus in the New York Metro area. The JBFC brings the transformative power of film to the surrounding community through unique programming and discussion, support for working artists, and educational initiatives. Since opening in 2001, millions of people have enjoyed the best of current American and foreign cinema, unique film series, and special events at the five-screen theater complex. A pioneer in visual literacy, the JBFC offers educational experiences for students of all ages at our state-of-the-art Media Arts Lab, including curricula for public schools. Creative Culture offers robust filmmaker fellowships and residencies to champion diverse voices, and fosters a community of thriving artists.